Recording Guitar direct

  • Thread starter Thread starter TravisBean
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All you need is a clean line in...
yup - you need to think about the entire (and hopefully short) signal chain from your guitar to the converter. Any crap component in there is going make the whole thing sound bad - bad components can make things sound thin, scratchy, floofy, srafidywfy, n#E*!, making up words here, but the point is that you want the full unaltered unadulterated signal of your guitar to get to the converter. Then you can go wild in the digital world -- I'm a former converted skeptic on amp sims, provided the raw material is good.
 
Try doing things backwards...

Using the GSP-2101:

Press the "Active Speaker Compensator" button (next to the XLR outputs) IN.

Connect the XLR outputs to your Akai DPS16 using an XLR to TS cable. Do not use an XLR/XLR cable.

Connect your headphones to your Akai DPS16.

Then try to adjust your GSP-2101 to achieve an acceptable tone.

May work...may not...but worth a try...
I'm not entirely sure of the signal chain your suggesting, but I think it will cause regenerative feedback.
Can you specify the signal chain ? Example: GSP2101 balanced outs> 1/4 inch inputs AkaiDPS16> etc etc etc
 
you don't have to crank an amp to get get a really good overdriven tone.

post a clip that you would send to a speaker emulator and post a clip after your best speaker emulator.
 
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I'm not entirely sure of the signal chain your suggesting, but I think it will cause regenerative feedback.
Can you specify the signal chain ? Example: GSP2101 balanced outs> 1/4 inch inputs AkaiDPS16> etc etc etc

No offense, but methinks you may be over-analyzing things a bit...

I suppose it would be theoretically possible to generate feedback by turning the headphones up really loud and putting them next to your guitar pickups, that is about the only way you could generate any sort of feedback from the signal chain I am suggesting.

I originally posted:

Using the GSP-2101:

Press the "Active Speaker Compensator" button (next to the XLR outputs) IN.

Connect the XLR outputs to your Akai DPS16 using an XLR to TS cable. Do not use an XLR/XLR cable.


The only set of XLR outputs on your GSP-2101 are balanced outputs. The only set of 1/4" inputs on your Akai DPS16 are unbalanced line inputs. Assuming you know to connect outputs to inputs, there is only one way the cable I suggested could be connected.

Balanced-to-unbalanced rationale...The Active Speaker Compensation on your pream is only active on the XLR outputs. The only line-level inputs on your Akai DPS16 are unbalanced.

While what I suggested will work technically, as I noted it may not give you the sonic results you desire. But it's worth trying...
 
Thank you for the kind comment, sir. :)

Any luck on the direct tone quest?
 
No offense, but methinks you may be over-analyzing things a bit...

I suppose it would be theoretically possible to generate feedback by turning the headphones up really loud and putting them next to your guitar pickups, that is about the only way you could generate any sort of feedback from the signal chain I am suggesting.

I originally posted:

Using the GSP-2101:

Press the "Active Speaker Compensator" button (next to the XLR outputs) IN.

Connect the XLR outputs to your Akai DPS16 using an XLR to TS cable. Do not use an XLR/XLR cable.


The only set of XLR outputs on your GSP-2101 are balanced outputs. The only set of 1/4" inputs on your Akai DPS16 are unbalanced line inputs. Assuming you know to connect outputs to inputs, there is only one way the cable I suggested could be connected.

Balanced-to-unbalanced rationale...The Active Speaker Compensation on your pream is only active on the XLR outputs. The only line-level inputs on your Akai DPS16 are unbalanced.

While what I suggested will work technically, as I noted it may not give you the sonic results you desire. But it's worth trying...

My bad, I was not reading your post correctly--- "button (next to the XLR outputs) IN" . You meant to activate the speaker emulation setting by pressing "IN" and I thought you were referring to another input. At any rate, I've already gone that route, thanks for the suggestion.
 
Thank you for the kind comment, sir. :)

Any luck on the direct tone quest?
Not really. I'm not entirely unhappy with my sound. I find that if I start a melody with a gentle descending bend instead of a hard attack, and tailor my playing a certain way, that I can work my way around some of the tonal characteristics that I dislike. On my next project I'm probably just gonna approach things that way.
(I might buy a small Line 6 amp and try miking it)
 
recording direct

I tried a lot of direct recording. The best amp simulator for me was the YAMAHA DG STOMP. Every song on my reverbnation page was recorded direct with it. Check them out if you want. reverbnation.com/johneburns
I used compression to give more presence to the guitars.
I have to say recording direct is ment for getting ideas down fast, not for pro sounding recordings. You have to mic a speaker for a great sound. You will NEVER get pro sounding direct recordings. Trust me, I tried em all. I own digitech 2101 and 2120 which are the best guitar preamps I've ever used, but forget recording direct with them.
 
I would welcome you to try out AmpliTube 3 FREE on a computer if you have a chance. I was never really happy with any of the hardware stuff myself. I went through tons of em too.
 
I would welcome you to try out AmpliTube 3 FREE on a computer if you have a chance. I was never really happy with any of the hardware stuff myself. I went through tons of em too.

I have Amplitude 3 and it is no better than the rest of the amp sims. I have to say from personal experience using PODS, Amplitude and a variety of other sims, that a mic on a (good) amp is the way to go. For those who cannot use an amp, you'll just have to find and program your favorite pedal/sim...
 
This youtube clip sums it up. youtube.com/watch?v=48TkQD9Bnwk
You can clearly hear the difference between direct and miced.
Although amplitube 3 is definitely better than the others I've used, it still isn't as good as a miced speaker.
It lacks presence and punch. Thanks for posting the link, being FREE is a good thing! I would use it for getting ideas down, BUT not for what I would consider a pro recording.
 
what i think my band is going to do for our next album is send the guitars into amplitube 3 and then send the preamp signal out of the daw into the power in of a fender combo and then mic the speaker, we can get distortion at a lower volume while still getting the sound of a real speaker.
 
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